[Diabetes-Talk] Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (MDNA), H.R. 4853

[joystigile at gmail.com]

Hello DAN Membership,

Now, is the time for all of us to call and email our Congressional
Representative!  Please take a few minutes to show we matter!

Warmly, Joy

Treasurer, Diabetes Action Network

 

Dear Federation Family:

 

On July 29, Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the Medical Device Nonvisual
Accessibility Act (MDNA), H.R. 4853 in the House of Representatives. With
the rapid advancements in medical technology, it is absolutely paramount
that manufacturers of medical devices incorporate nonvisual access into
their products. As it currently stands, most newer models of home-use
medical devices, such as glucose and blood pressure monitors, along with the
emergence of in-home devices that offer medical care options, such as
chemotherapy treatments and dialysis, require that consumers interact with a
digital display or other interfaces. This new technology has been and
continues to be developed and deployed without nonvisual accessibility. 

 

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act will eliminate this barrier
by authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a minimum
nonvisual access standard for all Class II and Class III medical devices,
which include all of the devices listed above, as well as digital
thermometers, oximeters, and many more. The FDA will consult with
stakeholders who represent people with disabilities and medical device
manufacturers as a part of this process. 

  

We encourage you to contact your representative as soon as possible and urge
them to cosponsor H.R. 4853. 

 

When you call or email, you might say the following:

 

"Hello, I’m [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I
live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to
cosponsor the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853). This
legislation authorizes the FDA to establish a minimum nonvisual access
standard for home use medical devices so that blind people can operate them
safely and independently.

 

Thanks."

 

You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard
and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you
email your representative, please copy John Pare at jpare at nfb.org
<mailto:jpare at nfb.org> . Your calls and emails do make a difference.

 

A list of legislative directors is attached to this email, but if you need
help finding the contact for your member of Congress, please email Jesa
Medders at jmedders at nfb.org
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=22485&qid=5845897>  and she will find
the appropriate staff member for you to email. Additionally, you will find
the list of current cosponsors pasted below.

 

Thank you for your great advocacy!

 

Federationally Yours,

Stephanie Flynt

 

Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]

Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]

Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]

Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]